FROM THE BEGINNING: With Lance Berkman and Austin Kearns on the team, the Yankees now have nine players who were drafted in the first round (Berkman, Kearns, Hughes, Jeter, Moseley, Rodriguez, Swisher, Sabathia and Teixeira). Joba Chamberlain was a supplemental first-round pick.

NO-NO NO PROBLEM: Matt Garza threw a no hitter in his previous start. The last time the Yankees faced a starting pitcher coming off a no-no was 1991 when they won against Wilson Alvarez. They had eight hits off Alvarez and won on a Roberto Kelly walked off single. That’s coming from Elias.

HEARTY AND HUSTLEY: Gritty, gutty Brett Gardner has been named the yankees winner of the MLB Players Alumni Associated Heart and Hustle Award. The award honors a players who “demonstrate passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit and tradition of the game.” An overall winner will be chosen from the 30 individual team award winners.

UPDATE, 7:32 p.m.: Double. Single. Sac fly. Those were the first three batters Javier Vazquez faced, and they were enough for a 1-0 Rays lead in the first inning.

UPDATE, 8:10 p.m.: Brett Gardner clearly thought he could make that catch, instead his dive turned a double into a triple with one out here in the third inning.

Meanwhile, the game is tied because of a sac fly in the second. Sorry for the lack of updates. Just a little too much to write right now.

UPDATE, 8:12 p.m.: RBI single by Crawford brings the run home and gives the Rays a 2-1 lead.

UPDATE, 8:45 p.m.: Garza just sent the side down in order in the fifth. So far, Robinson Cano has two doubles, and that’s it for the Yankees. Garza has absolutely shut them down. Vazquez has pitched well, but the 2-1 lead remains.

UPDATE, 8:55 p.m.: Double. Sac bunt. Sac fly. It’s only one more run, a two-run lead seems massive considering the way Matt Garza is pitching. Rays are up 3-1 heading into the sixth.

UPDATE, 9:00 p.m.: For whatever reason, I like the word clobbered and try to use it only when it absolutely applies. Mark Teixeira just clobbered that ball to right field for a two-run homer that has tied the game at 3. Whatever word you like — crushed, smoked, destroyed — feel free to use it. Teixeira hit that ball very, very hard.

UPDATE, 9:15 p.m.: Not sure whether TV showed this or not, but Javier Vazquez came off the mound positively screaming at himself after giving up a solo home run to Matt Joyce. Obviously things would be a lot different right now if Joyce weren’t with this team. Rays are up 4-3.

UPDATE, 9:25 p.m.: Swisher’s 20th homer of the season has tied the game at 4. Safe to say he was pretty excited about it.

UPDATE, 9:34 p.m.: No chance Vazquez was going to face John Jaso again. Here comes Boone Logan. By the way, the Rays played the song Hey Joe while Girardi walked to the mound. Well done.